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Peres FF, Diana MC, Levin R, Suiama MA, Almeida V, Vendramini AM, Santos CM, Zuardi AW, Hallak JEC, Crippa JA, Abílio VC. Cannabidiol Administered During Peri-Adolescence Prevents Behavioral Abnormalities in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:901. [PMID: 30186164 PMCID: PMC6113576 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is considered a debilitating neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder and its pharmacotherapy remains problematic without recent major advances. The development of interventions able to prevent the emergence of schizophrenia would therefore represent an enormous progress. Here, we investigated whether treatment with cannabidiol (CBD - a compound of Cannabis sativa that presents an antipsychotic profile in animals and humans) during peri-adolescence would prevent schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities in an animal model of schizophrenia: the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strain. Wistar rats and SHRs were treated with vehicle or CBD from 30 to 60 post-natal days. In experiment 1, schizophrenia-like behaviors (locomotor activity, social interaction, prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning) were assessed on post-natal day 90. Side effects commonly associated with antipsychotic treatment were also evaluated: body weight gain and catalepsy throughout the treatment, and oral dyskinesia 48 h after treatment interruption and on post-natal day 90. In experiment 2, serum levels of triglycerides and glycemia were assessed on post-natal day 61. In experiment 3, levels of BDNF, monoamines, and their metabolites were evaluated on post-natal days 61 and 90 in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Treatment with CBD prevented the emergence of SHRs' hyperlocomotor activity (a model for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia) and deficits in prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning (cognitive impairments). CBD did not induce any of the potential motor or metabolic side effects evaluated. Treatment with CBD increased the prefrontal cortex 5-HIAA/serotonin ratio and the levels of 5-HIAA on post-natal days 61 and 90, respectively. Our data provide pre-clinical evidence for a safe and beneficial effect of peripubertal and treatment with CBD on preventing positive and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and suggest the involvement of the serotoninergic system on this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda F Peres
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana C Diana
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel Levin
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mayra A Suiama
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valéria Almeida
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana M Vendramini
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila M Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antônio W Zuardi
- National Institute for Translational Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- National Institute for Translational Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - José A Crippa
- National Institute for Translational Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Vanessa C Abílio
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Diana MC, Peres FF, Justi V, Bressan RA, Lacerda ALT, Crippa JA, Hallak JEC, Abilio VC. Sodium nitroprusside is effective in preventing and/or reversing the development of schizophrenia-related behaviors in an animal model: The SHR strain. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:624-632. [PMID: 29656549 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotics is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, the search for new treatments and prevention is crucial, and animal models are fundamental tools for this objective. Preclinical and clinical data evidence the antipsychotic profile of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. We aimed to investigate SNP in treating and/or preventing the schizophrenia-related behaviors presented by the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) strain. METHODS Wistar rats (WR) and SHRs were submitted to two schemes of treatment: (i) a single injection of SNP or vehicle in adulthood; (ii) a long-term early treatment from 30 to 60 postnatal day with SNP or vehicle. The following behaviors were evaluated 24 hours after the acute treatment or 30 days after the long-term treatment: locomotion, social interaction, and contextual fear conditioning. RESULTS Spontaneously hypertensive rats presented hyperlocomotion, decreased social interaction, and impaired contextual fear conditioning. Single injection of SNP decreased social interaction in both strains and induced a deficit in contextual fear conditioning in WR. Oppositely, early treatment with SNP prevented the behavioral abnormalities in adult SHRs without promoting any effects in WR. CONCLUSION Our preclinical data point to SNP as a preventive and safe strategy with a broad range of effectiveness to the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana C Diana
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Fernanda F Peres
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Veronica Justi
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A Bressan
- LiNC-Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências Clínicas, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Acioly L T Lacerda
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,LiNC-Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências Clínicas, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Alexandre Crippa
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanesssa Costhek Abilio
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Peres FF, Levin R, Almeida V, Zuardi AW, Hallak JE, Crippa JA, Abilio VC. Cannabidiol, among Other Cannabinoid Drugs, Modulates Prepulse Inhibition of Startle in the SHR Animal Model: Implications for Schizophrenia Pharmacotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:303. [PMID: 27667973 PMCID: PMC5016523 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that involves positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Prepulse inhibition of startle reflex (PPI) is a paradigm that assesses the sensorimotor gating functioning and is impaired in schizophrenia patients as well as in animal models of this disorder. Recent data point to the participation of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. Here, we focus on the effects of cannabinoid drugs on the PPI deficit of animal models of schizophrenia, with greater focus on the SHR (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats) strain, and on the future prospects resulting from these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda F Peres
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel Levin
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valéria Almeida
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio W Zuardi
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São PauloRibeirão Preto, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq)Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Jaime E Hallak
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São PauloRibeirão Preto, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq)Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - José A Crippa
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São PauloRibeirão Preto, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq)Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Vanessa C Abilio
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista De Medicina, Federal University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
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